The Winnipeg Jets host the St. Louis Blues on Monday night for Game 2 of their first-round playoff series. The puck drops at 7:30 PM ET at Canada Life Centre. Winnipeg leads the series 1-0 after a 5-3 win in Game 1 on Saturday.
In Game 1, Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele each had three points to lead Winnipeg. The Blues held a lead going into the third, but penalties and defensive lapses allowed the Jets to score late. St. Louis now looks to even the series before heading home.
Jets Preview – Keeping the Momentum Going
Winnipeg finished the regular season 56-22-3-1, good for first in the Central. They went 31-7-4 at home and led the NHL with a +86 goal differential. The Jets allowed just 191 goals this season, the fewest in the league.
In Game 1, Kyle Connor scored the game-winner and added two assists. Scheifele also had three points, while Alex Iafallo added a goal and an assist. Goalie Connor Hellebuyck stopped 22 of 25 shots in the win.
Winnipeg struggled during the season when trailing after two periods but found a way to rally in Game 1. Their top players stepped up, and the team capitalized on power play chances. They are now 4-1 against St. Louis in the last five meetings.
Blues Preview – Looking to Bounce Back
St. Louis went 44-30-6-2 this season, finishing fifth in the Central. The Blues were 20-17-5 on the road. They’ve won 19 of their last 26 games overall, but Game 1 exposed a few weaknesses.
Robert Thomas led the Blues during the regular season and is a key piece on offense. Jake Neighbours and Zack Bolduc both took penalties in Game 1, which hurt their momentum. Jordan Binnington allowed four goals on 25 shots in the loss.
St. Louis will need to tighten up defensively and avoid costly penalties in Game 2. The Blues have covered the puck line in 20 of their last 31 games and tend to play close games. They’ll need more from their top scorers and steadier goaltending to even the series.
Betting Prediction
The Jets are -186 favorites with the total set at 5.5 goals. Winnipeg has been dominant at home and has won eight of the last ten meetings against St. Louis. The Jets’ offense has been consistent, and their defense leads the league in goals allowed.
St. Louis can keep it close, but Winnipeg’s depth and home ice give them the edge again. A similar result to Game 1 is likely. Expect a score around 4-2 in favor of the Jets.
Pick: Winnipeg Jets -1.5 over St. Louis Blues.
This was a great game on Saturday. The Blues feel like they were very close to getting a win in Game 1. St. Louis will have to finish the game better on Monday if it wants to head back home with an even series. We do not expect it to happen. The Jets beat the Blues on Monday in Game 2 of the best of 7 series.
